Yahoo Autos Mitch Evans Leads Jaguar to Podium Sweep at Formula E Sao Paulo E-Prix
Jaguar TCS Racing executed a near perfect race at the inaugural Julius Baer São Paulo E-Prix as Mitch Evans took the checkered flag and teammate Sam Bird finished third in Round 6 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Saturday.
Runner-up Nick Cassidy of Envision Racing made it an all-Jaguar podium.
Evans, who started third, is the fifth different winner in six races of Season 9 of the all-electric open-wheel series. The win kept one more streak alive, as well, as no winner has come from the pole this season.
It also marks a significant race for Jaguar, which had endured a frustrating season up until the weekend with just one podium to its name across the first five rounds of the season.
"This has come at the perfect time, we had a tough start but the car has been quick - so to finally get the victory and some points is incredible,” Evans said. “A Jaguar 1-2-3, Nick pushed me all the way. We pushed each other. Both teams executed brilliantly. This is down to a lot of hard work, there is a lot of graft that goes in with simulations, to try and put these races together regarding strategy is not easy. I wouldn't have wanted it much closer than that.
"We obviously thought about track position and where you want to be at certain phases in the races. I had a good energy advantage from quite early on, but it was just about trying to find the right time to use the energy advantage. I thought I maybe went a bit too early, once Nick got behind me he was able to accumulate some energy and he was able to stick to my toe, but we got the victory so we obviously managed to do the right job. Super happy to get some big points on the board."
Evans' move on Lap 32 proved to be decisive, with neither Cassidy nor Bird able to overcome the leader's defensive driving the rest of the way, despite Bird having collected a couple of extra percentage points of useable energy during his climb from 10th on the grid at the start. Cassidy had led the race more than once, but will be more than satisfied to score three podiums on the spin for the first time in his Formula E career.
Series points leader Pascal Wehrlein started eighth on the grid and sliced his way through the pack to finished seventh. That allowed him to keep his points lead.
Results
ABB Formula E Sao Paulo E-Prix
Mitch Evans, Jaguar TCS Racing, 53:25.536
Nick Cassidy, Envision Racing, +.284 second
Sam Bird, Jaguar TCS Racing, +.507
Antonio Felix Da Costa, Tag Heuer Porsche, +3.487
Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Penske, +4.042
Stoffel Vandoorne, DS Penske, +4.576
Pascal Wehrlein, Tag Heuer Porsche, +5.65
Jake Hughes, Neom McLaren, +6.141
Rene Rast, Neom McLaren, +7.403
Sebastien Buemi, Envision Racing, +7.976
Maximillian Gunter, Maserati MSG Racing, +15.192
Andre Lotterer, Avalanche Andretti, +15.345
Lucas DiGrassi, Mahindra Racing, +19.247
Robin Frijns, ABT Cupra Formula E, +20.751
Oliver Rowland, Mahindra Racing, +21.465
Sergio Sette Camara, NIO 333 Racing, +31.514
Dan Ticktum, NIO 333 Racing, +34.398
Jake Dennis, Avalanche Andretti, DNF
Edoardo Mortara, Maserati MSG Racing, DNF
Sacha Fenestraz, Nissan Formula E, DNF
Nico Muller, ABT Cupra Formula E, DNF
Norman Nato, Nissan Formula E, DNF
